In 1938, Franklin Roosevelt was two years into his first term in office, there were only 48 states in the union, and the Michigan men's tennis team lost to Purdue for the first time.
In 1997, Bill Clinton has started his second term as President, Americans are hopeful about the prospects of peace in the Middle East, and the Michigan men's tennis team lost to Purdue for the second time.
The Boilermakers (2-1 Big Ten, 10-3 overall) eeked out a 4-3 victory Sunday over the injury-plagued Wolverines (0-2 Big Ten, 2-9 overall). The defeat completed a disappointing weekend for Michigan. The Wolverines fell, 6-1, on Saturday to No. 11 Illinois (2-1 Big Ten, 9-5 overall).
"I was more disappointed after the Illinois match," Michigan assistant coach Dan Goldberg said. "We had some injuries both days, but we didn't play our best against the Illini."
Indeed, Michigan had its hands full with Illinois. Only Brad McFarlane was able to capture a point for the Wolverines. McFarlane, who played in the No. 6 spot against the Illini, defeated Illinois' Jeff Laski, 6-0, 6-4. But even McFarlane's victory came at a price, as the freshman sustained a sprained ankle.
Other than that, Illinois swept the doubles matches and the rest of the singles matches to win, 6-1. No.1 Cary Franklin of Illinois took a hard-fought, three-set match against Michigan's David Paradzik, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. The only other three-set match was the No. 2 singles duel.
Michigan's Matt Wright took the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-4), over Gavin Sontag of Illinois. Sontag, however, won the second, 6-0, and took the third in a closel fought tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-4).
The rest of the singles matches each lasted two sets. No. 3 Jerry Turek of Illinois defeated Arvid Swan, 6-3, 6-4. No. 4 Oliver Freelove beat Will Farah, 6-3, 6-0, and No. 5 Jakub Teply handled Miki Pusztai, 6-3, 6-3.
Illinois swept the doubles matches to take the doubles point and secure its margin of victory.
McFarlane's ankle injury did not stop him from playing a close match Sunday. He finally succumbed to Purdue's Jerad Harbaugh, 7-6, 6-4. That match was typical of Michigan's day: good effort, injury and loss.
"The guys who played against Purdue did a great job," Goldberg said. "We were a bit short handed this weekend, but the guys who competed should take pride in their efforts."
The teams split the six singles matches, and the Boilermakers swept the three doubles matches to earn the final point in their historic 4-3 victory.
Michigan was not without its highlights Sunday, however. Paradzik was able to salvage his weekend with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Cris James. Paradzik was not the only Wolverine to overcome a set deficit against the Boilermakers.
Pusztai, who moved up to No. 4 singles against Purdue, beat Greg Wessenberg, 0-6, 6-1, 6-1. All of the singles players except for Paradzik moved up a spot in the absence of the injured Matt Wright. Wright was able to compete in the No. 2 doubles, but was held out of singles competition.
Farah gained a split for himself over the weekend, taking a straight-set victory over Derek Myers, 6-4, 6-4. Swan was not so lucky when he moved up to No. 2, falling to Jamie Gordon, 6-3, 7-6.
Michigan's John Long was forced into singles duty at the No. 6 spot Sunday. Long had the most convincing win of the day for Michigan, whipping Purdue's Tushaar Gautam, 6-2, 6-2.
Long was forced to play due to the absence of sophomore Jake Raiton and the continued back problems that have slowed junior Brook Blain's season.